PEORIA, Ill. — If you received a letter from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office saying you have yet to file for a vote-by-mail application, you may be able to disregard it.
Many local residents told the Peoria County Election Commission on Thursday they received such a letter.
In response, the local commission issued the following statement:
The Peoria County Election Commission is aware of a letter that has been sent to some Peoria County residents stating their Vote by Mail application has not yet been received by the Election Commission’s Office. This letter was sent by the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office.
The Election Commission believes the data used by the Secretary of State’s Office to compile the mailing list for these letters is over two weeks old and not up-to-date. Many recipients of the letter have, in fact, successfully completed their Vote by Mail applications, and those applications have been received by the Election Commission.
“If you have requested a Vote by Mail ballot at some point during the month of September 2020, please know that you will be receiving your ballot in the mail, and you do not need to re-apply,” assures Thomas Bride, Executive Director of the Peoria County Election Commission. The first mailing of Vote by Mail ballots will begin on Thursday, September 24.
The letter from the Secretary of State’s Office also gives the impression that constituents are exclusively required to Vote by Mail, without the option to utilize in-person Early Voting or voting in-person on Election Day.
The Election Commission would like to reassure voters that Polling Places will be open on Election Day, and Early Voting will also be available to Peoria County residents this year, beginning mid-October.
All in-person Polling Places will have additional safety measures in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing markers, hand sanitizer, protective finger coverings, and other personal protective equipment for Election Judges and voters. Early Voting hours will also be increasing for the 2020 General Election. Additional information on Early Voting dates and times can be found on the Election Commission’s website at www.peoriaelections.org.
For more information, please contact the Peoria County Election Commission at (309) 324-2300.
